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From: tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com (nagasiva)
Newsgroups: alt.magick.tyagi,alt.sufi,alt.islam.sufism,talk.religion.misc,alt.consciousness.mysticism,alt.religion.gnostic
Subject: KMcfarland: Sufism, Purpose of Study and Research
Date: 7 Jan 1998 21:24:34 -0800
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[from tariqas@world.std.com: E Jason ]
Purpose of Study and Research (Notes by Mr Ken Mcfarland from
Syed Idries Shahs book The Commanding Self)
Most people who study, approach the task with an existing body of
knowledge and a set of ideological scripts. When studying Sufi
material, people try to learn methods and techniques in order
to supplement and strengthen their existing knowledge and beliefs.
This approach may glean some ostensibly useful information but
the quest of Sufi material cannot be apprehended in this manner.
To understand the Goal, it must be experienced.
People do not want to make any fundamental changes in their knowledge
or self-structure. This would be perceived as a loss of self. Rather,
people are motivated to study Sufi material to 1) acquire that which
they perceive will validate and enhance the self. This is the
intellectual equivalent to wearing makeup and jewelry. 2) experience
excitement and joy in the imagined scenes of self-aggrandizement,
adoration, and power believed to arise out of acquisition of
esoteric and privileged knowledge 3) acquire special and unknown
knowledge for amelioration or avoidance of intrapsychic conflict
and pain.
Many people want to experience transcendence to higher states of
consciousness. Often they learn phrases and slogans that seem to
reflect personal growth. "Know thyself" is one such frequently
spoken phrase. But this phrase requires the speaker to give up
denial and bring defensive scripts, together with the
vulnerabilities which are defended, into the light of awareness.
The reality is that few have the inclination or courage to
operationalize this dictum.
To be truly competent in an endeavor one must begin at the most
fundamental level and examine assumptions, analyze the obvious,
acquire the requisite skills, eschew the superfluous, and develop
an experiential relationship with the goal of the effort. This is
especially true within the domain of the Sufi enterprise.
--
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